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Subject: Skunk Works Digest V5 #262
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Skunk Works Digest Sunday, 7 May 1995 Volume 05 : Number 262
In this issue:
X-33 Details
Black Helos/Russian Flight crews
signs to watch for
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Windle
Date: Sat, 06 May 1995 15:08:50
Subject: X-33 Details
Ok-here's the X-33 info. Some of you will clearly already know some/all of
this-and more-so please bear with me- judging by the volume of requests for
background details there's quite a demand. I thought that posting this will
help to bring some degree of parity to the discussion that I hope will
result. Any further stuff will of course be most welcome.
Overview:
After exploring several re-usable launch vehicle concepts including the
winged body TAV and conical X-Rocket, several lifting body configs and
TSTO-Star Clipper, LADC has arrived at what it believes to be the best
combination.The programme is being developed by LADC-Martin Marietta -
Rocketdyne and Rohr. It's a wingless lifting body, with the by now
legendary Linear aerospike rocket engine using Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid
Oxygen. The X-33 will be a vertical take off / horizontal landing vehicle
designed to deliver 40,000 lb of payload to LEO or 25,000 lb to Space
Station orbit. The aim is to develop a vehicle that has more in common
with aircraft type payload integration and maintenance-thus lowering
turnaround times and costs.
Construction:
The X-33 will benefit from the evolution of new technologies, developed
since the Shuttle began operating - Advanced composite structural materials,
metallic and ceramic matrix composite thermal protection systems, and
improvements in liquid rocket engine design. Bottom surface heating levels
during re-entry will be lower than the Shuttle due to the large body radii
and low planform loading afforded by the lifting body shape. These factors
should result in an easily maintainable system. Because of the properties of
the Lifting Body, aerodynamic surfaces are for control only rather than
lift, thus saving on weight. "Body flaps trail from the upper and lower
surfaces of the vehicle outboard of the linear engine on each side. These
flaps are deflected to generate pitch, roll and secondary yaw moments
for aerodynamic control and trim during descent. Canted (outwards) vertical
tails with elevons are employed primarily for directional stability and
control. The leading edges of the vertical tails are swept aft to an angle
inside the shock wave during atmospheric re-entry to minimize aerodynamic
heating"
Propulsion:
"A key component of the Lockheed Concept is the Linear Aerospike Engine
originally developed by the Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International
as a candidate propulsion system for the Space Shuttle. The system shown
in the illustration during hot fire testing used cryogenic propellant
pumps developed for the Saturn J-2 engine. It generated 250,000 lb of
thrust at sea level, proving many of the Key technologies required for a
large scale,operable aerospike engine. The equivalent of $1 billion in
1994 dollars was spent in it's development making it the most mature
rocket engine concept that has yet to be flight tested. Significant
groundwork towards that objective has been accomplished in over 5,000
tests on aerospike systems built in both axisymmetric and linear
configurations.
The engine incorporates small combustion chambers (thrusters) side-by-side
exhausting onto a common surface.There is an equal number of upper and
lower thrusters on each module (typically 8-10 total) fed by a shared
turbopump pair. A module is a stand alone engine unit, incorporating it's
ownexpansion surface cooling elements. Thrust loads are distributed evenly
along the upper and lower expansion ramps, and are then transferred
directly into the vehicle aft body structure.
Whereas conventional bell nozzles are designed for a specific altitude and
perform non-optimally elsewhere the aerospike engine automatically adjusts
for optimum performance at all altitudes. This 'altitude compensation'
feature occurs as the exhaust plume from the thrusters expands
against the ramp along one side, and out to the freestream air on the other
side. The result is maximum engine thrust per unit of propellant burned.
During ascent, control moments are generated by differential throttling of
segments of the main engines. Engine gimballing is unnecessary. Thrust
vectoring through differential throttling is achieved by placing
electromechanical valves in the feed lines between the turbopumps and the
thrusters. Turbo machinery speed is maintained at constant levels, while
differential valving varies the resultant engine thrust levels. This
feature negates the requirement for heavy gimbaling systems and leak
susceptible flexible propellant feed line joints common to conventional
rocket engines.This approach also ensures rapid thrust vectoring response
rates during critical phases of the ascent trajectory."
Projected Mission Cost:
".....could be as low as $25 million per mission, equating to just over
$600 / lb. The greater the number of vehicles in service, the higher the
yearly launch rate can be, enabling the support infrastructure to operate
closer to maximum capacity and efficiency. This would provide even greater
flexibility in the pricing structure, enabling costs per launch to be
lowered even further."
Conclusion:
The underlying philosophy of Lockheed's development program is to "harvest"
and integrate existing high potential technologies...lightweight advanced
composite materials, structural concepts and manufacturing technologies
developed for vehicles such as the Bell/Boeing V-22 and the wingless
lifting body re-entry vehicle concept, tested by the USAF and NASA prior to
the development of the Space Shuttle orbiter. That test program included
high speed flight of at least five lifting body variants.... Technology
advancements and lessons learned during the NASP program also contribute to
the concept. Lockheed Fort Worth (LFWC) a contributing member of the team,
led the development of a graphite composite liquid hydrogen tank for NASP.
Rohr Inc is also a key team member and an industry leader in the design
and manufacture of high temperature structural materials. Their expertise
will be brought to bear on SSTO heated structures and thermal protection
systems for re-entry....the majority of required technologies are
sufficiently mature for near term development of an operational SSTO
vehicle, and the greatest challenges reside in effective integration of
those technologies. Emphasis on technology integration rather than
technology development will result in the greatest leverage of available
resources."
There you have it...the background on the LADC X-33 programme. For those
who are thinking "tell me something I don't know" - my semi-sincere
apologies ! Looks like the US will be leading the world into the second
generation of space planes, having shown the way with the unfairly maligned
Shuttle.
David
------------------------------
From: DaveB7012@aol.com
Date: Sat, 6 May 1995 14:05:01 -0400
Subject: Black Helos/Russian Flight crews
It is very likely that the Helos and crews were from Squad. Three out of
Jacksonville, FL. They are a SO team usually attached to an amphibious
battle group. Just my two cents worth...
Dave Barstow (DaveB7012@aol.com)
------------------------------
From: TRADER@cup.portal.com
Date: Sat, 6 May 95 14:03:00 PDT
Subject: signs to watch for
Since we are interested in classified ("black") aircraft activities, how
do we know when to pay attention to events?? Fortunately, the U.S.
Air Force provided a list in Air Force Instruction 10-1101, "Operations
Security (OPSEC) Instructions", May 19, 1994. In Attachment 3 of this
document, the following appears:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCES OF OPSEC INDICATORS
NOTE: This list is NOT all inclusive, it is provided as a stimulus only.
The only limit here is your own imagination!
A3.1 Operations Indicators
* Stereotyped activities such as schedules, test preparations, range
closures
* Visits of VIPs associated with a particular activity or technology
* Abrupt changes or cancellations of schedules
* Specialized equipment
* Specialized training
* Increased telephone calls, conferences, and longer working hours
(including weekends)
A3.2 Communications Indicators
* Specialized and unique communications equipment
* Power sources
* Increases and decreases in communications traffic
* Call signs
* Transmitter locations
A3.3 Administrative Indicators
* Military orders
* Distinctive emblems, logos, and other markings on personnel, equipment
and supplies
* Transportation arrangements
* Schedules, orders, flight plans, and duty rosters
* Leave cancellations
A3.4 Logistics and Maintenance Support Indicators
* Unique sized and shaped boxes, tanks, and other containers
* Pre-positioned equipment
* Technical representatives
* Maintenance activity
* Unique or special commerical services
* Deviations of normal procedures
* Physical security arrangements
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul McGinnis / TRADER@cup.portal.com / PaulMcG@aol.com
http://www.portal.com/~trader/home.html
**********************************************************************
Anonymous FTP access to files dealing with excessive military secrecy
is available from Internet host ftp.shell.portal.com (IP address
156.151.3.4) in the /pub/trader directory. Read the 00readme files for
descriptions of the files. Writings from Glenn Campbell, author of the
"Area 51 Viewer's Guide" are available in /pub/trader/secrecy/psychospy.
(America Online users can use Keyword:FTP, and Web users can use URL
ftp://ftp.shell.portal.com/pub/trader/ )
------------------------------
End of Skunk Works Digest V5 #262
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